Welcome to the Coastal Rainforest Research, Wildlife Conservation & Community Projects blog, where you can keep up to date with all the projects and information from GVI in Costa Rica

Global Vision International (GVI) is a non-political, non-religious organisation, which through its alliance with over 150 project partners in over 30 countries, provides opportunities for volunteers to fill a critical void in the fields of environmental research, conservation, education and community development.

Facts and Figures Quepos Community Project

Ongoing education support to over 330 primary school students within 2 local schools (2011-2012)

227,400 hours of Primary School students hours taught (2011-2012)

Over 1700 hours of English classes taught to adults and secondary school students (2011-2012)

Volunteer led English lessons with the 5 best students in each grade within the structure of El Cocal Primary School and Maria Luisa Primary School in Boca Vieja.

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

So I have just finished my second week in Costa Rica. So far it has been a great experience. My first week was full of waking up early and spending the mornings taking Spanish lessons then heading over to the school and community center in El Cocal for some lunch. I haven't spoken Spanish in a very long time but the Spanish classes seem to have brought back all the Spanish I learned while I was in school. My favourite part about my Spanish lessons is that both of my teachers don't speak any English, so I am forced to remember words I learned years ago to have a conversation with them. While difficult sometimes I feel like I have learned more Spanish in this week of classes than I have in my many years taking Spanish classes in school. This week I started working with the students in the community center, helping them with their homework, reading and just playing around with them. While it's very tiring working with the most energetic kids I've ever seen, the exhaustion doesn't matter when we see how happy they are to have all these volunteers here, helping and just playing around with them. I am looking forward to starting my own lesson plans for the kids and seeing how it transforms in the community.

As our afternoon comes to a end in El Cocal, the volunteers get some free time to do what ever they like; take a nice nap back at the house, shop around in Quepos or go to the nearest beach in Manuel Antonio. So far my favourite way to spend my time after school is to go to the beach and stop by Emilio's cafe for some ice coffee and the best cheese cake I've ever had.

I am loving living here in Costa Rica, helping these kids and taking in all that this wonderful place has to offer. I am so excited to see what else these next few months living here will bring me.Baily- Quepos Community Program Volunteer

quotes from the field...

"The work carried out by GVI Costa Rica makes a vital contribution to conservation and scientific research and personally speaking, I am proud to be able to say that I played a part in this project."
Michelle Miller, 10 Week Volunteer

"Having a truly incredible time here at Caño Palma. Every day here is amazing and brings exciting new things to see and do."

"The location is brilliant, the people are great and the wildlife is fantastic. So far I’ve seen green turtles, two-toed and three-toed sloths, coral snakes, a vine snake, green iguanas, basilisk lizards, a Neotropical river otter, caiman, crocodiles, strawberry poison-dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys to name just a few!"

"I also see loads of beautiful birds every day, including the two stunning species of toucan found here."

"I’m enjoying everything we do here but some of my favourite things so far have been the grueling 15 mile Jag Walk, climbing the rainforest-clad Cerro (hill), and of course the ever exciting turtle night walks."

"Getting to count a turtle’s eggs whilst she lays them is a real privilege, which I’ve been fortunate to experience twice so far. Measuring a turtle, helping tag and doing the body check are also great to do, even if you do get covered in sand and occasionally whacked by a flipper!"

"Walking through the rainforest and traveling along the canals are other things I love doing here, as the scenery is wonderful and you always see some really interesting things."

I can’t really think of anything bad to say about this place, even the frequent rainstorms, the humidity, the early mornings and being woken by screaming howler monkeys just adds to the experience, and it’s certainly worth being filthy and covered in various insect bites to be here.

I can’t wait to see what other amazing experiences 5 more weeks in Costa Rica will bring." Alex Page from the UK, Expedition Member from July-September 2008

“I was impressed with the level of professionalism of the GVI staff, who were helpful, enthusiastic and clearly passionate about the work they do here at Jalova. I have had a wonderful time and feel inspired to use the knowledge I have learnt in the classroom. Thank you very much." Mrs Ali Omell, Turtle Project Volunteer